ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): a nuerodevelopmental disorder primarily involving maladaptive levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness (Barlow, 2015).
Clinical Description: According to the American Psychological Association's DSM-5, diagnostic criteria for ADHD (in picture below) requires a persistent pattern of inattention and or hyperactivity/impulsivity that interferes with functioning in development. For both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, sections, 6 or more symptoms must persist for at least 6 months or more to a point that is inconsistent with development level and negatively impacts social or academic activities (Barlow, 2015).
Statistics:
- ADHD is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children (nimh).
- Found in 5.2% of child populations of different regions throughout the world, the U.S diagnosing children more frequently than anywhere else in the world.
- A study claimed 11% of children ages 4-17 were labeled with ADHD from 2011-2012.
- 3-9% of the entire world population meets the criteria for ADHD that significantly interferes with their quality of life.
- Boys are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed than girls, which could be due to the differences in symptoms between both genders.
- Estimated 1/2 of children with ADHD continue to have similar issues in adulthood.
- children with ADHD are typically first identified as different from their peers around age 3-4 as their behavior tends to involve active mischievousness, slowed potty-training skills , and defiant behavior.
- The volume of a child's brain with ADHD is on average 3-4% smaller than that of children without ADHD (Barlow, 2015).
Possible Causes: There are not many proven definite causes for ADHD because many research is currently in the process. Ultimately, no single risk factor explains ADHD; both inherited genetic and uninherited environmental factors contribute to increased risked factors for ADHD. Risk factors only increase probability of developing ADHD and do not determine presence of disorder (Thapar, 2013).
- Possible familial inherited gene sequence
- Environmental risks include: pre- and perinatal factors, environmental toxins, dietary factors, psycho-social adversity
- ADHD frequently exists with other nuerodevelopmental problems like Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as various mood and personality disorders.